Business
Host communities, CSOs reject PIB, say it will create impunity
The recent promise by the current leadership of the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in April may not be fulfilled following the rejection of the bill on Thursday by host communities and civil society groups in the Niger Delta.
In rejecting the bill, they said it was designed to further enslave oil producing communities and create confusion in the region.
Spokesperson for the CSOs and host communities in the Niger Delta, Botti Isaac, said the current PIB would not protect the host communities as it could only leave them at the mercy of the oil companies.
He also said the bill when passed and signed into law would promote confusion in the Niger Delta and further expose the communities to environmental degradation and untold hardship, adding that communities in the Niger Delta will not accept such a law.
He accused the National Assembly of not allowing a fair and adequate opportunity for vulnerable stakeholders in the region to have a say in the legislative process towards passing the PIB.
He accused the lawmakers of giving so much attention to the government and oil companies to speak on the bill.
Isaac said, “We believe that a new set of laws are necessary to govern the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
“However, the PIB’s proposals, as it is, would promote environmental impunity in the oil industry and exacerbate social dislocation in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta.
“On Tuesday, January 26. 2021, representatives of oil-bearing communities and civil society organisations from the Niger Delta were denied the right to participate in so-called Public Hearings organised by the Senate.
“After dedicating the first day of the hearing to take elaborate presentations from oil company representatives and government stakeholders, the Chairman of the Committee promised to allow the presentation of host communities’ views the next day.
“Unfortunately, rather than accord the representatives of oil-bearing communities the same attention, they were denied the opportunity to speak and instead asked to ceremonially hand over copies of their memorandum to the session Chairman.
“Again, we noted a similar display at the House of Representatives Hearing where members of oil host communities were denied access to the public hearing hall.
“We consider the manner the National Assembly has handled host communities and civil society contributions in these hearings as deliberately aimed at ensuring those critical voices are not heard.
“As the Petroleum Industry Bill is critical to the functionality of the oil and gas sector and the Nigerian economy, it is of utmost importance that all stakeholders are treated equally and accorded the same opportunity to discuss its contents and proposal.
“We are also profoundly concerned about the limited number of days and hours allocated to the Public Hearings on the PIB. Each day’s session lasts between 10 am and 1 pm. On the average, only about three hours are spent on the hearings each day, amounting to only six hours of public hearings in both houses of the legislature. To say the least, this is grossly inadequate and does not indicate a commitment to aggregating and considering all views.”
He said further that while the PIB remains the oldest and perhaps the most contentious bills in Nigeria’s legislature, it has suffered several setbacks, adding that “while we support a speedy passage of the Bill, we are more interested in such bill’s content and quality.
“As currently proposed, the PIB 2020 is inadequate to address the environmental, human rights and livelihoods concerns of host communities. Proposal for a host communities development fund does not support the participation of the communities in decision making.
“The governance structures proposed for the host communities fund deliberately deny any meaningful level of community participation while overtly promoting oil companies’ control and prominence.
“Oil companies described as ‘Settlors’ in the Bill are empowered to set up the Board of Trustees of the Trusts and conduct needs assessment and produce development plans on behalf of host communities. We believe that the level of emphasis on oil companies could fuel oil industry divide-and-rule tactics and stoke communal conflicts.
“It is also important to note that environmental pollution concerns are almost entirely ignored as the Executive Bill focuses more on production and commercial viability of the industry. The PIB 2020 ‘disempowers’ federal and state environmental agencies from the monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations in the petroleum industry.
“While Nigeria records the highest and unacceptable levels of crude oil spills globally, and the country is among the worst in gas flaring globally, the PIB 2020 fails woefully in addressing these issues. There is no clear provision for addressing environmental pollution and sanctioning polluters. The bill fails to introduce any new measures to encourage the elimination of routine gas flaring.
“A key source of contention in the PIB, at least from the point of view of host communities, is the fact that it places responsibility for the protection of pipeline and other oil infrastructures with the communities.
“According to the Bill, the host community advisory committee ‘take responsibility for first line protection of facilities and ensure that petroleum operations are uninterrupted by members of their community failing which, benefits from the trust to the host community shall be.
He argued that placing the protection of oil installations on some unarmed host communities is unrealistic as “previous researches conducted by Social Action reveals that oil theft which is the major reason for puncturing oil pipelines is carried out mainly by armed cartels who are most times not even members of the community”.
He stressed if this provisions of the law is allowed to stand, “it could result in consistent denial of benefits which could in turn engender conflicts.”
![]()
Auto
Carloha Opens Wider Access to Chery Q as Smart EV Enters Nigeria’s Mainstream
Carloha Opens Wider Access to Chery Q as Smart EV Enters Nigeria’s Mainstream
Carloha Nigeria is taking the Chery Q to motorists across the country, widening access to an electric vehicle designed to combine affordability, practicality, intelligent technology and zero-emission motoring.
The move by the official franchise holder, assembler and authorised distributor of Chery vehicles in Nigeria is expected to give more Nigerian motorists an opportunity to experience the Chinese automaker’s latest generation of smart electric mobility.
Built around Chery’s global “Quest for Joy” philosophy, the Chery Q blends distinctive styling with intelligent technology, advanced safety features and efficient electric performance, while drawing inspiration from the heritage of the iconic Chery QQ family.
Carloha said the model is targeted at a broad spectrum of motorists, including young professionals, growing families, first-time electric vehicle buyers and urban commuters looking for a cleaner, smarter and more connected driving experience.
The Chery Q also brings a strong design proposition to the compact EV segment. Its award-winning exterior, recognised with both the Red Dot Design Award and iF Design Award, features expressive geometric styling, rounded LED lighting and a contemporary two-tone interior.
Despite its compact dimensions, the vehicle has been engineered to maximise interior space, achieving an 85 per cent space-efficiency ratio.
Measuring 4,195mm in length with a 2,700mm wheelbase, the Chery Q offers substantial passenger room while retaining the manoeuvrability expected of an urban vehicle.
Its practicality is further enhanced by luggage capacity that expands from 375 litres to 1,450 litres, alongside a 70-litre front trunk and 38 smart storage compartments.
According to the company, the combination makes the Chery Q suitable for a wide range of everyday applications, from city commuting and shopping to family outings and weekend journeys.
Beyond its styling and practicality, the electric vehicle has been developed around a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive architecture, supported by independent suspension and balanced weight distribution to enhance handling and stability.
The model also features Electric Power Steering and a One-Box Brake-by-Wire system designed to provide smoother braking response, improved driving precision and greater control, while supporting regenerative energy recovery.
A key attraction for potential EV buyers is the Chery Q’s claimed driving range. The vehicle offers an estimated 420-kilometre NEDC range, giving users greater flexibility for daily commuting and longer journeys between charging sessions.
Charging downtime is also reduced through its fast-charging capability, with the battery able to move from 30 per cent to 80 per cent in about 16.5 minutes, according to the manufacturer.
With the nationwide rollout, Carloha is positioning the Chery Q as part of the growing transition towards cleaner and smarter mobility in Nigeria, as interest in electric vehicles continues to expand.
The company’s wider strategy of assembling and distributing Chery vehicles locally also places the Q within its broader effort to make the brand’s technology and vehicle range more accessible to Nigerian motorists.
![]()
Business
NNPCL Slashes Petrol Pump Price to N1,405 in Abuja, Dangote Refinery Cuts Gantry Rate
NNPCL Slashes Petrol Pump Price to N1,405 in Abuja, Dangote Refinery Cuts Gantry Rate
Abuja — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced a reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, at its retail outlets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
A market survey conducted on Sunday revealed that NNPCL filling stations in key areas such as Gwarimpa and Kubwa have adjusted their prices downward to N1,405 per litre, a reduction from the previous rate of N1,430 per litre.
However, the survey indicated a slight variation in pricing across different NNPCL outlets within the capital city. While the Gwarimpa and Kubwa stations are selling at N1,405, other outlets located along the Kubwa Expressway, Air Junction, as well as those in Wuse Zones 4 and 5, are offering the product at a lower rate of N1,395 per litre.
The latest price adjustment by the national oil company follows a significant reduction in the gantry price of petrol by the Dangote Refinery. Reports indicate that the refinery recently slashed its gantry price by N25, bringing the rate down to N1,325 per litre.
The reduction in pump prices is expected to bring slight relief to motorists and commuters in Abuja, who have had to grapple with high transportation costs fueled by elevated fuel prices in recent months.
Industry observers note that the ongoing price adjustments reflect the dynamics of the deregulated downstream sector, where market forces and refinery gate prices influence retail costs. It remains to be seen if other major marketers and independent oil marketers will follow suit with similar price reductions in the coming days.
Motorists in Abuja have welcomed the development, expressing hope that the downward trend in fuel prices will be sustained across the country and ultimately lead to a reduction in the overall cost of living.
NNPCL Slashes Petrol Pump Price to N1,405 in Abuja, Dangote Refinery Cuts Gantry Rate
![]()
Railway
Rail-Port-Industry Link Critical to Cutting Logistics Costs – NRC
Rail-Port-Industry Link Critical to Cutting Logistics Costs – NRC
The Nigerian Railway Corporation has said Nigeria must urgently integrate its rail network with seaports, inland dry ports and industrial centres to cut logistics costs, ease pressure on the highways and make the movement of goods across the country more efficient.
The NRC said a seamless connection between rail lines, ports and major production centres would strengthen the movement of agricultural produce, containers, petroleum products and other bulk cargoes, while reducing the cost and time involved in transporting goods from ports to markets and industries.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, stated this on Thursday in Lagos in a speech delivered on his behalf at the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria conference, stressing that rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation must work as an integrated transportation system if Nigeria is to unlock the full economic benefits of its logistics sector.
The NRC boss also revealed that the corporation had opened the door wider for private investors to participate in the development of freight terminals, logistics hubs, rolling stock and other critical infrastructure as part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s rail system into a major engine of economic growth.
He said stronger private-sector participation was imperative because government alone could not provide the massive investment required to build an efficient and interconnected transportation system capable of lowering logistics costs and boosting economic activities.
Opeifa said Nigeria could no longer afford to develop its transportation modes in isolation, stressing the need to connect rail with seaports, inland dry ports, industrial centres and major economic corridors.
He said such integration would enable rail to play a greater role in moving bulk cargo across the country, while reducing the pressure currently placed on the highways.
According to him, rail has the capacity to move large volumes of passengers and freight over long distances and should therefore become a critical component of Nigeria’s logistics architecture.
He said, “At the Nigerian Railway Corporation, our focus is therefore not only on passenger transportation but also on strengthening freight operations and creating greater connectivity between rail lines, seaports, inland dry ports, industrial centres and major economic corridors.”
The NRC MD identified agricultural produce, petroleum products, containers and other commodities as some of the major categories of cargo that could benefit from a more efficient rail freight system.
He said an effective multimodal transportation network involving rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation would reduce the cost of doing business, improve access to markets and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness.
Opeifa also called for a regulatory framework capable of attracting private capital into the transportation sector, particularly in rolling stock, freight terminals, logistics hubs and related infrastructure.
“The future of Nigeria’s transportation sector must also be driven by stronger partnerships. Government alone cannot provide all the infrastructure and investment required,” he said.
The NRC’s position comes amid growing concerns over the high cost of logistics and the burden placed on Nigerian businesses by inefficient movement of goods from ports to markets and production centres.
Opeifa said transportation infrastructure should be viewed not simply as public assets but as critical economic infrastructure capable of stimulating industrial production, trade and employment.
He, however, warned that vandalism and encroachment remained major threats to railway investments, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, security organisations, host communities and passengers to protect railway tracks, bridges, signalling systems and other infrastructure.
He said the protection of rail infrastructure must become a collective responsibility if the country was to derive the full economic benefits of ongoing investments in the sector.
The NRC chief executive also stressed the need to make transportation affordable and accessible, noting that improved mobility would provide Nigerians with greater access to jobs, markets, education and economic opportunities.
Opeifa reaffirmed the NRC’s commitment to the Federal Government’s vision of developing a modern, integrated and efficient transportation system capable of supporting the country’s economic aspirations.
He commended TCAN for providing a platform for policymakers, operators, investors, professionals and the media to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s transportation sector.
He said sustained investment, innovation, collaboration and effective policy implementation remained essential to building a logistics system capable of unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

![]()
-
Sports3 days agoAFCON 2027 Qualifier: Nigeria Fight Back to Beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo
-
metro3 days agoViral Anti-Obi Video: Lagos Police Move Against Inspector Osumah Frank
-
News2 days agoFake Agency Scandal: Gbajabiamila Says He Never Betrayed Tinubu’s Trust
-
metro2 days ago$155m Left Behind, $750m Liabilities: Anambra Govt Opens Fresh Obi Files
-
metro3 days agoOgun Man Arrested Over Alleged Killing of Neighbour After ‘Rough Play’ With Child
-
Politics3 days ago2027: Fayemi Denies Galadima’s Claim He Is Coordinating Opposition Group Against Tinubu
-
metro2 days agoWoman Busted With Alleged Alcohol Hidden in Water Pack at Ogun Prison
-
metro3 days agoUnexplained Wealth: Obasanjo, Osinbajo, Others for Shittu’s Book Launch

You must be logged in to post a comment Login